A defense lawyer who once represented a caregiver accused of killing an elderly Rancho Bernardo man may be sent to jail if she continues to refuse to answer questions in court about financial documents related to the case.

Terry Zimmerman, a longtime deputy public defender, was found on Wednesday to be in contempt of court for refusing to answer questions in Superior Court related to Denise Goodwin’s murder case, despite a judge’s ruling on the matter. The attorney has until Tuesday morning to notify the judge whether she has asked an appeals court to review the order.

If she fails to do so, Zimmerman — who has refused to answer the questions, citing attorney-client privilege — will be sent to jail until she agrees to answer the questions or the case is resolved.

Matthew Braner, a supervisor in the Public Defender’s Office, said Wednesday that the circumstances Zimmerman is facing are unusual and that his office will file the necessary documents in an effort to keep her out of custody.

“It’s certain that we have to vigorously litigate,” Braner said. “I can tell you the court expects no less.”

In a written ruling, Judge Charles Rogers said he found “beyond a reasonable doubt, that (he) warned Zimmerman of the consequences of refusing to answer the questions, including contempt” and he overruled her claims of privilege.

Goodwin, 46, faces murder and other charges in connection with the disappearance and presumed death of 89-year-old Gerald Rabourn. His body has not been found.

Prosecutors have said that Rabourn has not been seen since October 2010, about a month after he hired Goodwin to provide hospice care for his wife, who was dying of lung cancer.

When Goodwin was arraigned in 2011, Deputy District Attorney Bill Mitchell said she was accused of draining Rabourn’s bank account of about $500,000 in cash and other assets. The prosecutor said Goodwin forged the victim’s signature on documents to sell the family home and vehicle.

If convicted of the felony charges, as well as an allegation she committed murder for financial gain, Goodwin could be sentenced to life in prison without parole. Her trial is scheduled to begin later this month.

According to the judge’s written ruling, Zimmerman was appointed to handled Goodwin’s defense in September 2011. In April of last year, she filed a large envelope containing a will, letters and other documents that purportedly belonged to Rabourn with the court.

Those items were turned over to the prosecution.

The District Attorney’s Office then filed a motion last month seeking testimony from Zimmerman about how she obtained the documents.

The judge’s order notes that Zimmerman came to court Tuesday and respectfully refused to answer certain questions. But he also determined that the questions were proper, and that the answers were not covered by attorney-client or work-product privilege.

Rogers then concluded that Zimmerman’s refusal to answer each of the 11 questions posed to her in court was an act of direct contempt.

Zimmerman did not immediately respond to a call seeking comment. She no longer represents Goodwin.

According to the judge’s order, Zimmerman’s office reassigned her to different duties for reasons that appear unrelated to the prosecution’s motion.